MyLittlePony's on the road to Iceland

[Paisley]

Yeahhhh I'm back finally.  I missed the last challenge just because I was too busy at the start of the challenge to get a new thread up - and then I was just too lazy.  But the good news is that I did keep up the exercise..(well up till this week - I'm calling this my week off before I get back into it).  I did at least 2, and generally 3, lifting sessions every week.....Unfortunately the food deal wasn't so good so my pants are all starting to get a bit too tight again - time to get serious!

 

So the exciting news from me is that We've booked a trip to Iceland for just after then end of this challenge.  This will be our first big overseas holiday with both kids so we'll see how it goes.  Both kids are pretty good travelers, we've been back to Australia a couple of times so they're good with planes, and we've done many road trips around the US so I'm not really too worried about how they do, but it'll be fun seeing how they deal with a new language, weird foods etc.

 

So what do I want to achieve in the lead up to this holiday

 

 

goal 1 - Running - I would like to get back into the running.  The goal 5km 2x /week.

OK I'm modifying this a bit to include any cardio type workout not just running.  Also includes elliptical or even a workout dvd.

Grading

A - 12 runs

B - 8 runs

C - 6 runs

D - 4 runs

F - <4 runs

 

goal 2 - specific exercises - Push Ups, Pulls Ups, Planks, Handstands, Squats

 

Push ups +1 every day starting at 5.

A 36 - 42 days 

B 30 - 35 days

C 24 - 29 days

D 18 - 23 days

F < 18 days

 

Pull Ups +1 every day starting at 5.

A 36 - 42 days

B 30 - 35 days

C 24 - 29 days

D 18 - 23 days

F <18 days

 

Planks - 5 mins each day

Hollow body hold - + 5 sec each day starting at 2 mins

A 36 - 42 days

B 30 - 35 days

C 24 - 29 days

D 18 - 23 days

F <18 days

 

Handstands - 5 mins each day

A 36 - 42 days

B 30 - 35 days

C 24 - 29 days

D 18 - 23 days

F < 18 days

 

Squats - 30 mins each day

A -  840 - 1260 mins

B - 620 - 840 mins

C - 400 - 620 mins

D - 180 - 400 mins

F - < 180 mins

 

goal 3 - food.  OK this needs to get back under control.  I've been slipping lately - eating lots of snacks more crap than I'd like so I'll be going back to the good eating. 

• No food after 7:30 pm
• Full tracking on MFP - within 200 cal of goal gives me a point.
• only healthy snacks on exercise days
• No snacks non exercise days.

goal 4 - Lifestyle.  obviously my focus in the coming weeks is going to be travel planning but I don't want to make that a goal as I'm going to do that without any issues.  What I do want to do is make sure I have time for all those other things I like to do as well.

• spend at least 1/2 hour every day doing something crafty.
• do at least one job around the house every two weeks - total of three jobs over the course of the challenge.
• spend at least 10 mins each day learning some basic Icelandic.

for these last two goals grading will be based on 1 point per day for each point at the end of the challenge.

 

A - 95-100%

B - 80-95 %

C - 75-80%

D - 60-75%

F < 60%

[sozzielou]

Subbed!

 

I am so with you on point 1. I think for the next challenge I may well do the same as you and focus on food.

[lilbichy]

followed =)

Awesome set of goals!  That is super exciting that you get to go on that trip!  I bet the kids are really stoked!  Lets rock this challenge together!  I love how you set up the snacking.

[JessOfAllTrades]

Following! Love your goals, and definitely can see the similarities.

[Librarian of Doom]

Yay! so glad you're back!!! *happy dance*

 

Great goals, too! looking forward to seeing your crafty awesomeness and pics of the Iceland trip!!!

[goodbye_farewell]

Glad to see you are back MLP. *subbed*

[Paisley]

argghhhh I was going to reply to you all but for some reason Nerd Fitness is not working for me at the moment.  I can't post pictures or links, cant copy and paste, and now it looks like I can't quote.  Will have to figure this out so its going to get really annoying.

 

But thanks for all the love - I'm looking forward to getting back into it.  The good news is last night I had my first success.  I tried the I don't eat after 7:30pm rule and stuck with it.  I felt like snacking but just told myself nope I don't do that and managed to resist.  Hopefully I can keep it up.  Food not so great today, had a playdate at my house (10 kids running around) and just snacky type foods for lunch - they were all healthy, but I have no Idea how MUCH I ate.

 

Did my first pull up yesterday (well assisted/negative) and two today.  Will keep increasing it daily so I can start at 5 on Monday.

[Paisley]

Still can't get nerd fitness to work properly and its really annoying me.  Will have to call in the expert (husband) to have a look for me.

 

Last couple of days haven't been great.  Foods been all over the place and exercise hasn't. 

 

But I wanted to add starting statistics.

 

Weight:60kg

 

bust: 36in

under bust: 30 in

belly button: 36.5 in

biggest waist:37.5 in

hips:38.5 in

 

weight in lb

squats: 115 x 5, 117 x4

bench:  80 x 5, 82 x 1

OHP: 51 x 5,  53 x 2

Barbell rows: 80 x 5

Cleans: 66 x 5

Deadlifts: 175 x 5, 178 x 3

[sozzielou]

Good idea, I'm going to do some measurements too

[Paisley]

OK I've updated my challenge goals and adding some basic grading.  I think I've got a handle on what I want to achieve this challenge now. But I reserve the right to modify this (especially goal 3) as I see how its going.

[direrael]

Iceland?? Holy crap that's awesome! Just don't get hit from an exploding volcano.

[lilbichy]

30 minutes a day of squats?  Holy cow that sounds like a lot of squats!

[Paisley]

Week 1 - Day 1

 

OK day 1 completed and I seem to have done ok.

Goal 1 - nothing on this today

Goal 2 -

Push up - 5 done

Pull ups - 5 done

planks -6 mins done

Handstands - 5 mins done

squats - done

 

goal 3 - food

Breakfast - leftover Paella

lunch - deli meats, veges, peanut butter, banana, cheese

dinner - smothered pork chops, mashed turnip muffins, zuchinni, beans and mushrooms.

No snacks, no eating after 7:30.

 

goal 4 - basic Icelandic phrases have been written down - 10 mins done

crafty stuff - I spent the day making myself a new pair of shoes.

 

 

lilbichy - yep 30 mins worth of squats feels like forever - This goal is based on a PvP challenge that's going on that's aimed at making the squat position a good resting position.  I'm hoping that if I can get the squat form down like this it'll help out my form for back squats.

 

direrael - I'm so excited about this trip - But I'm trying very hard not to think about the possibility of any eruptions.  That's what the safety evacuation insurance is for!

 

bring on day 2.

[Librarian of Doom]

It looked to me like you got a lot done! Those shoes are awesome!!!

[sozzielou]

Woohoo that's awesome for day 1   keep up the momentum!

 

I love the aqua-coloured corduroy on your shoes.

[goodbye_farewell]

lilbichy - yep 30 mins worth of squats feels like forever - This goal is based on a PvP challenge that's going on that's aimed at making the squat position a good resting position.  I'm hoping that if I can get the squat form down like this it'll help out my form for back squats.

 

 

Wait, so do you squat up and down for 30 min, or drop down into a low squat for 30 min?

[Paisley]

It looked to me like you got a lot done! Those shoes are awesome!!!

Thanks, I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. Hopefully day 2 can be as good.

Woohoo that's awesome for day 1   keep up the momentum!

 

I love the aqua-coloured corduroy on your shoes.

Yeah I found that fabric for sale ages ago, made both my son and daughter a pair of pants out of it so was just using up the last little bits - I wish now I'd bought enough to make myself a pair of pants as well - I love that fabric.

Wait, so do you squat up and down for 30 min, or drop down into a low squat for 30 min?

Just drop down into the squat and hold it for 30 mins. Of course I can't actually do that yet so I drop down and hold it or as long as I can - somewhere between 0 and 10 mins, then stand (or fall over backwards as the case my be) and stretch then drop back down. You don't have to do it all at once either it can be spread out over the day 5 mins here, 5 mins there, I just didn't have the time to do that yesterday so did them all at once.

[JessOfAllTrades]

The squat challenge sounds intriguing. I may have to try it, since my form tends to get wonky as the weight goes up. Awesome job on day one!

[Paisley]

The squat challenge sounds intriguing. I may have to try it, since my form tends to get wonky as the weight goes up. Awesome job on day one!

Yeah so far I'm liking it - I was worried about having to get 30 mins each day but if you incorporate it into your day it isn't too bad.

So Week 1 Day 2

goal 1 - Running - The goal 5km 2x /week.

well I didn't get out for a run but I did do about 41 mins on the elliptical. I feel like that should count. Maybe I need to change this goal to cardio 2x per week....will think further on this.

goal 2 - specific exercises - Push Ups, Pulls Ups, Planks, Handstands, Squats

Push ups - 6 done

Pull Ups - 6 done.

Planks - 5 mins done

Handstands - 5 mins done

Squats - 30 mins - done

goal 3 - food.

Breakfast - greek yoghurt, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, homemade granola, frozen blueberries.

Morning tea - Banana (after exercise)

Lunch - deli meat, cut up veges, cheese, peanut butter

afternoon tea - black bean brownies

Dinner - julienne veges with homemade pasta sauce (tomato) and bacon - 5 totellini and one small slice of homemade bread with butter.

dessert - 95g frozen fruit

I'm Happy enough with this - am feeling seriously hungry now but am sticking to the no eating after 7:30 rule. I'm sure I needed more protein tonight but got lazy after cooking for the kids.

•No food after 7:30 pm - done

•only healthy snacks on exercise days - done

•No snacks non exercise days.

goal 4 - Lifestyle.

•spend at least 1/2 hour every day doing something crafty. - does taking apart a knitted sweater count? I decided today that the sweater I've been working on for the last week is just tooo big so I spent tonight rewriting the pattern then ripped it all apart - tomorrow I will start again.

•do at least one job around the house every two weeks  - nothing yet

•spend at least 10 mins each day learning some basic Icelandic.- done

[Paisley]

Week 1 Day 3

goal 1 - Running - The goal 5km 2x /week.

does 5 mins count - nope nothing real on this today

goal 2 - specific exercises - Push Ups, Pulls Ups, Planks, Handstands, Squats

Push ups -7 done
Pull Ups - 7 done.
Planks - 5 mins done
Handstands - 5 mins done
Squats - 30 mins - done

goal 3 - food.

Breakfast - breakfast cookie dough  (oats, banana, applesauce. yoghurt, baking soda)
Lunch - deli meat, cut up veges, cheese, peanut butter on toast
afternoon tea - black bean brownie, apricot nut ball, slice of bread w/ vegemite
Dinner - party pie, cabbage and kolrabi stirfry, extra party pie meat.
dessert - apricot nut ball.

I definitely felt like I needed a snack today so am happy with this.

•No food after 7:30 pm - done
•only healthy snacks on exercise days
•No snacks non exercise days.


goal 4 - Lifestyle.
•spend at least 1/2 hour every day doing something crafty. - restarted the sweater tonight .
•do at least one job around the house every two weeks  - sanded and painted two window and hung new blind and curtain in bedroom.
•spend at least 10 mins each day learning some basic Icelandic.- missed this today.
 

[Librarian of Doom]

Yes, ripping apart the sweater counts. Cutting fabric to sew would count, right? Great workouts!!!

[Paisley]

Week 1 Day 4 - updated throughout the day

goal 1 - Running - The goal 5km 2x /week.
 nope


goal 2 - specific exercises - Push Ups, Pulls Ups, Planks, Handstands, Squats

Push ups -8 done
Pull Ups -  8 done.
Planks -  I think that I am going to change this goal, after the push ups, pull up and handstands my arms are really feeling it, so I think instead of doing planks I'm going to do hollow man instead.....but I can't do 5 mins so I'm going to start today at 2 mins and see if I can add 5 sec each day....2 mins hollow man done today.

Handstands -  5 mins done
Squats -  12 mins - done

goal 3 - food.

Breakfast - lime chobani yoghurt, mashed turnip muffin, egg, party pie meat
Lunch - party pie, salami, green pepper, cheese, peanut butter
afternoon tea - lemon crisp cookie (x4)
Dinner - chili w/ guacamole
dessert -



•No food after 7:30 pm - done
•only healthy snacks on exercise days
•No snacks non exercise days. - failed completely today.

 

Well I went and put today and yesterdays food roughly into MFP and it looks like I'm still way over calories so it looks like I'm back to logging as I go to keep me accountable.  Hello MFP it's been a while....


goal 4 - Lifestyle.
•spend at least 1/2 hour every day doing something crafty. - half an hour on sweater
•do at least one job around the house every two weeks -
•spend at least 10 mins each day learning some basic Icelandic.- 10 mins done

[goodbye_farewell]

Just drop down into the squat and hold it for 30 mins. Of course I can't actually do that yet so I drop down and hold it or as long as I can - somewhere between 0 and 10 mins, then stand (or fall over backwards as the case my be) and stretch then drop back down. You don't have to do it all at once either it can be spread out over the day 5 mins here, 5 mins there, I just didn't have the time to do that yesterday so did them all at once.

 

Aaah yes. That is a good exercise for loosening the hips up. I have always heard it called the Grok Stretch (or Grok Squat)

[sozzielou]

What's a hollow man?

 

I looked it up on youtube but all I got were movie clips and a song by Marillion.

[Paisley]

Aaah yes. That is a good exercise for loosening the hips up. I have always heard it called the Grok Stretch (or Grok Squat)

 

Its good but geeze 30 mins takes forever.

 

What's a hollow man?

 

I looked it up on youtube but all I got were movie clips and a song by Marillion.

OK it sems to go by the name hollow body hold more.  This is a good description.

http://gymnasticswod.com/content/hollow-body-progression-pt1

 

OK so today has been - not quite so great.  Last night I was sooooo buggered - it got to 9:30 and I had to head to bed - I couldn't stay up any longer.  I originally thought that maybe my food levels were too low (Its how I usually feel when I'm working out and trying to restrict calories) so I finally got around to putting my food into MFP to see how I was actually doing....nope I'm actually eating to maintenance calories - today over calories thanks to a bad afternoon so I can't blame that.  So yeah had a blow out this afternoon with some cookies that were given to us - ended up eating about three before I finally took myself in hand and managed to stop.  I was happy that at least I managed to stop when I did - I really wanted to continue but didn't so that's a small win.

 

I also tried to give blood this afternoon and was told that nope my iron levels are too low, which you would think would explain the tiredness but when she told me the actual number it was actually a lot higher than it has been.  Last time I got a check up it was down at 11.5 or so (and I was feeling fine then) so the doc told me to start taking iron tablets.  I was actually taking two a day for a the last couple of days to make sure it was high enough to give blood so I'm pretty unimpressed it was still low (up to 12.3 though).

 

But yeah It looks Like I need to continue with MFP if I'm going to actually restrict my calories - I thought I was doing OK but nope.  I'll see what tomorrow looks like when I actually weight everything (as opposed to today when I just guessed as how much I was eating).

 

OK enough rambling.  Tomorrow will be better...I will eat well, and since the hubby is due home by lunch time I may even get out for a run (assuming it doesn't snow on us again).